by: S. Scott Stanikmas – Senior Staff Writer

Having a big name like Cate Blanchett in a comic book movie like the next Thor film lends it quite a bit of cred – like having Robert Redford in Captain America: The Winter Soldier did for that movie. But once you announce her, now the speculation begins as to just who you have her play.

Den of Geek may just have the answer to that question though. They have sources that tell them just who Blanchett will be playing – and this character could have far-reaching implications on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Apparently the Oscar-nominated actress is in line to play Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death. Den of Geek had the following explanation:

Sources have confirmed with Geek.com that the big bad of Thor: Ragnarok will be Hela, the Marvel comic book character who is the ruler of Hel and the realm of Niflheim. Considering Ruffalo let slip that Blanchett will play a baddie, it’s probably safe to assume that she’ll assume the role of Hela. She’ll be her normal comic book self, complete with her cloak and power over the dead souls of the Nine Realms. Hela will make it to Asgard, where she’ll be in cahoots with Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, current motives unknown.

It makes sense. If you have a film called Ragnarok, which is the twilight of the gods and the end of Asgard, it only makes sense for Death to be involved.

But that might not be Blanchett’s only stop in the MCU. The word is that she will be involved in the Avengers: Infinity War films. How does she fit? This is where being a bit of a comic book nerd helps.

In the comics, Thanos (who we’ve seen as the driving force behind the major bad times in the MCU) takes the Infinity Gems and wields them in a gauntlet and then kills half the universe to impress his crush – Death. Now instead of using a new character in the Avengers films, why not use someone who has already been established as Death herself:

There has been speculation that the character of Hela could replace the physical embodiment of Death that Mad Titan Thanos falls in love with when he obtains the Infinity Gauntlet in the comic books on which the Avengers: Infinity War movies are loosely based. The general thought is that having a character representing Death suddenly appear in a big Avengers movie would be more confusing to audiences than a character they already know represents Death from a previous movie. Though now that Cate Blanchett is likely Hela, who wouldn’t want this to be true just to see Blanchett and Josh Brolin (who will be playing Thanos) repel dozens of Avengers?

Mind you, this is all still just rumor right now. Blanchett’s role has not been confirmed yet – but this would make the most sense if it did happen.

Thor: Ragnarok, which will have Thor teaming with the Hulk in a Midnight Run-esque buddy flick, will be directed by Taika Waititi and is expected to hot theaters November 3, 2017.